Pacific / Samoa

Samoa's measles death toll remains at 79 - govt

13:05 pm on 24 December 2019

There have been no deaths from Samoa's measles epidemic in the past three days - with the toll standing at 79.

This picture released on December 5 by UNICEF Samoa shows nurse Fa'atafa Tavita (R) speaking with a family at the Apia Town Clinic in Samoa's capital city Apia. Photo: AFP PHOTO / UNICEF / ALLAN STEPHEN

Samoa's Ministry of Health said there had been another 28 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 5580.

Sixty-four people remain in hospital, including six critically ill children and three adults in intensive care.

Three pregnant women are hospitalised in the maternity ward of Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.

The total number of measles cases admitted to all hospitals recorded during the outbreak to date is 1810. Of that, 1667 or 92 percent of patients have been discharged.

As of 23 December, about 95 percent of the population has been vaccinated.